A federal appeals court ruled on Friday, August 7, 2026, that the Trump White House lacks the authority to unilaterally build a new 90,000-square-foot ballroom where the East Wing once stood. The court found that the $400 million project requires congressional approval, emphasizing that Congress holds "full constitutional control over federal property and the funding of its maintenance and development."

The judges noted an "absence of any express or implied authorization" granting President Trump the power to demolish and rebuild substantial portions of the White House using privately collected funds. "We are aware of no instance in American history in which a President unilaterally and using privately collected funds demolished substantial portions of the White House that Congress authorized to be built and American taxpayers paid for," the court said.

President Trump quickly responded, stating he would appeal the ruling directly to the Supreme Court, setting up a legal showdown over the ballroom's controversial construction.

The administration argued that halting the ballroom's construction would "severely jeopardize the lives and welfare of the people who work, and will be working, at the White House," citing that the stoppage would impact the construction of an underground bunker included in the project. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche also filed court documents urging the resumption of construction, referencing a recent attempted attack at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in April as underscoring the need for a secure ballroom on White House grounds.

Arden Farhi, managing editor for CBS News' Washington bureau, who has covered multiple presidential campaigns and administrations, reported on the ruling and its implications.

Sources